Microsoft has given consumers a closer look at the Xbox Series X full specs, and it's been an enlightening moment for fans. It's no secret that Microsoft has fallen behind its competition in this most recent console generation, evident by the fact that Sony's PS4 reportedly outsold Xbox One by 65 million units. But in recent years the Xbox brand has made considerable gains on PlayStation, which has led some industry insiders to say that Xbox is more valuable than Sony and Nintendo.

The Xbox Series X was announced back at the 2019 Game Awards, but rumors have been swirling for years about what kind of features the next-generation console will offer. Back in December 2019, Microsoft listed some general tech specs for Xbox Series X, and alleged that the new console was all four Xbox generations in one. Since the Xbox Series X's announcement, Microsoft has doubled-down on its assertion of the console's capability of cross-generation play.

Related: PS5 And Xbox Series X Will Likely Be Delayed According To New Report

Tech enthusiasts may be happy to hear that Microsoft has outlined the official specs for its upcoming console in a full-fledged rundown. The full console breakdown is split into three distinct sections: the first is "The Most Powerful Xbox Ever" which looks at the ways in which new hardware will translate to better graphics and more fluid gameplay. The Xbox Series X will utilize custom processing architecture, based on an AMD Zen 2 CPU and an RDNA 2-Class GPU. AMD claims that this leap in processing hardware is "the biggest generational leap of SOC [System on a Chip] and API design that we’ve done with Microsoft." One major feature that the new system architecture will make possible is hardware accelerated DirectX raytracing, "which simulates the properties of light and sound in real time more accurately than any technology before it."

Ray Tracing in Minecraft Demo

The second section analyzes how the coalescence of rotational drive optimization and software will create unprecedented performance capabilities for games. Microsoft touts its new "Xbox Velocity Architecture" as the "soul" of driving Xbox Series X forward. The Velocity Architecture will supposedly introduce Dynamic Latency Input and display features for HDMI 2.1 that support 120HZ screens, including: Variable Refresh Rates and an Auto Low Latency Mode. The 1TB Solid State Drave will also help to reduce load times in games and boost general performance. The last section looks at how Xbox Series X will allow cross-generation play. However, cross-generation play means much more than the name implies, Microsoft says that Xbox Series X will allow gamers to transfer saves between consoles, play multiplayer across consoles and most importantly, upgrade purchased games for free with new consoles.

These new features are insanely impressive and on the bleeding-edge of technology. It hasn't been long since raytracing was introduced on PC in games like Control, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, and Microsoft's own Minecraft. Now it appears that raytracing will be an industry standard feature moving forward. The hardware alone makes it difficult to think that the price of the Xbox Series X will be under $500, not to mention the considerable software support with Velocity Architecture and the ecosystem that allows for cross-generation play and purchases. No matter what the price ends up being, it seems that Microsoft has a technical winner on its hands with the wildly exciting Xbox Series X.

Next: Xbox Series X Brings Back Memory Cards

Source: Microsoft